The Representation of the Lacanian Concept of Objet Petit a in Brain Yorkey’s Next to Normal

This paper provides a semiotic analysis of the representation of the Lacanian concept of objet petit in the Broadway musical Next to Normal, composed by Brian Yorkey. Objet petit a, a fundamental concept in Lacanian psychoanalysis, refers to the unattainable object-cause of desire that fuels the subject’s endless quest for fulfillment. Relying on Lacan’s concepts of subjectivity, deprivation, and the role of the object petit a, this study aims to examine the way Yorkey employs various theatrical signifiers including music, lyrics, characterization, and staging to convey and dramatize this elusive Lacanian notion. The study focuses on illustrating how the protagonist, Diana, embodies objet petit a in her behavior and how her mental illness determines and shapes her relationship with her family. It also traces how her mental illness developed and is depicted in symbolic order. The analysis delves into how the musical’s symbols, metaphors, and narrative structure work together to convey the perpetual absence and incessant search for the objet petit a. By examining Next to Normal through the lens of Lacanian theory, the significance of the study relys in shedding light on how contemporary musical theater can serve as a powerful medium for dramatizing complex psychoanalytic concepts, which is a gap in the studies of such musical plays, particularly the selected play.